December 16, 2018
Evening Service

This morning we tried to bring the whole story together as we have now looked at the who, what, how and now the why.  God sent His Son to earth to heal His broken relationship with mankind.  The story begins with a young couple who share the secret that God is on the move.  I thought video this morning gave us a tremendous visual image of what it was like for them as first the shepherds and then the wise men came to worship their young child.  God uses these visits to build their faith and resolve to be the earthly parents of God’s Son.  Tonight we will look at how God continues to guide and protect this young couple and their child.

After the wise men’s visit, God had warned them in a dream to return to their home a different way and avoid a return visit to Herod.  God then appears to Joseph in a dream and gives him instructions.

Mat 2:13-18  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."  (14)  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,  (15)  and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."  (16)  Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.  (17)  Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:  (18)  "A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH, LAMENTATION, WEEPING, AND GREAT MOURNING, RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN, REFUSING TO BE COMFORTED, BECAUSE THEY ARE NO MORE."

            Through this event God fulfills two prophecies; one from Hosea and one from Jeremiah.  God’s wisdom protects young Jesus from the wrath of a spurned King Herod, but the children of Bethlehem still become victims of it.  This is one of those events in the Bible that makes us wonder and ask the question; why?  No real explanation is given to us so we just have to choose to trust God’s wisdom.  This is our enemy’s first attempt to destroy the Christ child. 

When Jesus was eight days old, he was circumcised according to the Law.  It was then that He was officially named Jesus according to the angel’s command.  Later, when Mary had competed her purification (40 days), they traveled to Jerusalem to present the Child to the Lord.  It was a ceremony where they offered a sacrifice to buy back or “redeem” their firstborn child from the Lord thus acknowledging that He ultimately belonged to God.  The offering they gave was one offered by the poor couple that they were. 

 

Luke 2:22-26  Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord  (23)  (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "EVERY MALE WHO OPENS THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD" ),  (24)  and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A PAIR OF TURTLEDOVES OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS."  (25)  And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  (26)  And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

             For some unknown reason God had revealed to His faithful servant Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ.  This to me is a reward for Simeon for diligently seeking after God.  This was something that God did not have to do, but did so to reward a faithful servant’s true heart.   Grace is a part of all of our lives.  As Dave Ramsey says when asked how he is “Better than I deserve.”  God often grants us our hearts desire to reward our faithful efforts in serving Him.  Have you experienced that before?  God is good!

 The promise to Simeon now comes true and he prophesies of what this Child will mean for the world and what lies in Mary’s future as well.

 

Luke 2:27-35  So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law,  (28)  he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:  (29)  "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word;  (30)  For my eyes have seen Your salvation  (31)  Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,  (32)  A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."  (33)  And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.  (34)  Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against  (35)  (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

            Notice Simeon does not say Jesus will be a light for the Jews only, but also for the Gentiles as well. He prophesied that some would fall (not believe) and others would rise (become believers) in the nation of Israel. He says “My eyes have seen your salvation!”   This young Child is the Gift of God that will bring salvation to whosoever will believe upon His Name.

            His prophecy to Mary includes the fact that “a sword will pierce through your soul.”  That is a perfect way to describe the horrors she witnessed her firstborn Son endure upon the cross.  She would be later rewarded to see Him after He arose from the grave.

 

Luke 2:36-38  Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;  (37)  and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  (38)  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

This is another great example of unmerited favor granted to a faithful servant.  Anna, though great in age, had never lost hope in God and He rewarded her greatly for it.  She also shared the wonderful news to all that a time of redemption had come.  Are we as excited to share the same news today?

            We now complete our story as God moves Joseph to return home to raise Jesus in Nazareth, fulfilling yet another prophesy.

 

Mat 2:19-23  Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,  (20)  saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."  (21)  Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.  (22)  But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee.  (23)  And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

This prophecy came from the Book of Judges.  Mary and Joseph have come full circle and now return home.  They are not the same scared and inexperienced couple that had left here earlier.  Think of what all they have seen God do in their lives.  They must have been still in awe of all that was happening to them.  As it said before, Mary pondered all these things in her heart.  There is only one more account of Jesus as a youth until we see Him begin His ministry at the age of 30.

Luke 2:41-51  His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  (42)  And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast.  (43)  When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it;  (44)  but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances.  (45)  So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him.  (46)  Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions.  (47)  And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.  (48)  So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."  (49)  And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"  (50)  But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.  (51)  Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

        At a very young age Jesus knew the path that lied before Him.  I can only imagine the things Mary and Joseph saw in those years. 

            We began this story with Gabriel announcing to Zacharias that God was on the move.  We have followed the entire path and even stood back and looked at God’s view of the birth of His Son in a stable.  We know the who, what, when, how and the why now behind the story of Christmas.  Now we need to be like Anna and share that with everyone we see!

 

Heavenly Father thank You for writing and completing this beautiful love story.